Born in Marion, Indiana in 1955, Captain John Cook graduated from Mississinewa High School and was a U.S. Navy Veteran. After serving his country in the Navy, Capt. Cook was an EMT for Marion General Hospital from 1978 to 1981 and a Warren City Police Officer from 1979 to 1981. In 1981, Capt. Cook joined the Marion Police Department until 1990, when he joined the Grant County Sheriff's Department to serve the citizens of Grant County until his death in 2009.

In honor of Capt. Cook's dedication and service, the Grant County Sheriff's Department and the International Union of Police Associations, Local 825, are proud to offer the Captain John M. Cook Memorial Scholarship.

The scholarship offers $1,000.00 to a deserving Grant County high school senior who plans to further their education in a criminal justice related field at a college or university of their choice.

Applicant qualifications:

Must be a high school senior in any Grant County Indiana school (public or private).

Must have at least a 2.0 grade point average, on a 4.0 scale, or the equivalent to a "C" grade average.

Must be enrolled as a full-time student (12 or more credit hours) in a college/university.

Must have taken the Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT) or the American College Test (ACT).

Must be committed to pursuing an education and career in a law enforcement/criminal justice field.